𝙏𝙃𝙐𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍 // 𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙭 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

𝙨𝙠𝙮 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣... ?

// Slight? Gore warning? For this chapter? //
// Not really that gory but still 😭 //

"So... Juliette. You're confident you can lead me to Rush?" [Y/N] walked alongside her former enemy, Spinster Juliette.
"Aye. I can navigateth these anters liketh the backeth of mine own hand," Juliette confirmed, "I could doth't blind."

With those words, [Y/N] felt as if all her trust had landed upon the spinster.
"But... what shall thee doth at which hour thee eventually meet... that gent? Shall thee... battleth with him?" Juliette pondered aloud.
"If it comes to it," the Sound Dragon Slayer nodded, "but hopefully not. I just wanna talk to him, see what he wants with this town. And with my guild."

"T'is not what he wanteth with thy guild, [Y/N]," Juliette's brow furrowed, "t'is what he wanteth with thee."
"Me?" [Y/N] had come to somewhat understanding what Juliette's sumptuous, flamboyant language, "just me?"
"Aye," Juliette confirmed.

"Why's he dragged the entirety of Sabertooth into it, then?!" the Dragon Slayer hissed.
"The reason... I don't know," Juliette sighed, "if't be true I didst, I wouldst bid thee. I wanteth to doth all I can to holp thee ov'rcome him."

"Thanks, Juliette," [Y/N] nodded, "gee... you didn't come across any of my guildmates before you saw me, didja?"
"Nay," she shook her head.

[Y/N] sighed with disappointment.
"I really hope Rogue's okay," she frowned, "I've got a real bad feeling. What if... Rogue, he's all by himself, and he comes across Rush? He's already in bad shape, and trying to fight Rush... I don't even wanna think about it."

"If't be true that he... Rogue, thee sayeth, comes across the God Slayer... I dread to bethink what wouldst befall to that gent," Juliette's lips also fell into a deep frown.
"Juliette..." [Y/N] took a deep breath inwards, "if... if I don't make it out of this alive... can you do something for me?"
"Aught," Juliette nodded.

"If I die... please do your best to get my friends out of here. It doesn't matter if Rush isn't beaten. I-I... I just want them to get untangled from my mess. This wasn't their battle in the first place, and I've dragged 'em all into it," the Dragon Slayer spoke, "and tell everyone that I love them so much, and... I'll always be with them."
"Of course, [Y/N]," Juliette replied curtly.

"And another thing," [Y/N] continued, "it's a big ask, and it's totally optional for you, but... just, please, check in on Novalee every once in a while. If I die. You don't have to join the guild or anything, if you don't want, although I'm sure they'd welcome you with open arms. But... she's my kid, Juliette. I mean... I dunno how she thinks of me, but... she's one of the good things in my life and I'm choosing her over me every time. So, if I don't make it out of here, please make sure she's alright. As someone who grew up orphaned, who lost the only mother I've ever had. I can't let that happen to her."

"Thee shall not die," Juliette chuckled gingerly, "I wouldst not alloweth yond befall aft'r the dedication thee has't shown to thy family."
"You mean that?" [Y/N] raised her eyes to Juliette's blue ones.
"I mean it with all of mine own being," Juliette hummed, "this journey is not a death sentence for thee, so stand ho, declaring thy final wishes."

[Y/N] gave a chuckle, although she felt her eyes welling with water. Just imagining all of her guildmates returning home to the guild, except for her. How that would break Novalee.
"Alright. Thanks," she gave a watery grin.

"Anon... come with me. The final battle awaits," Juliette smiled back at her. She held out a fragile hand, which [Y/N] took. She was surprised at the contrast between Juliette's almost porcelain skin and her own calloused hands.

// Change P.O.V //

None other than the Twin Dragons sprinted along the crumbling catacombs. There was a snaking, writhing, thrashing sound that shook the walls shortly behind them.